MBABANE: A pro-democracy soldier has urged Swazis not to be intimidated by the presence of the army to be deployed on Monday night and continue protesting in demand for democratic reforms.
Speaking to this Swaziland News, the member of Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force(UEDF) said they are receiving 20 bullets per person and that cannot control the situation.
“Zweli I think this is important or rather it will help, off-days would be put on hold for now to beef up security. But in the army we are almost 6 000 more than 500 are attending training outside the country, we are more than the police, so please tell the people to push, we are tired please” ,said the soldier.
Eswatini is facing growing calls for democratic reforms, pro-democracy protests manifested into chaos after King Mswati through Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku issued a decree banning the delivery of petitions calling for democratic reforms.
On Saturday at Ntondozi, police arrested Mangaliso Nkwanyana, a member of the UEDF who was accused of participating in a protest in demand for democratic reforms, other pro-democracy security officers called for his immediate release.
The family of the soldier confirmed to this publication that he was detained at Malkerns and later handed over to the Military Police at Pocweni .
Reached for comments, Tengetile Khumalo, the UEDF Public Relations Officer referred comments to the police.
“The UEDF Public Relations Office, has not received any formal report about the alleged incident.
lt would therefore be near lmpossible to comment from, an uninformative position.
One can only advise, that you contact the police, who would be in a better position to answer your questions accurately” ,she said .
But this publication is in possession of evidence that army authorities were discussing the matter.
Protests manifests into chaos in eSwatini